Reubens
A surname referring to someone from the city of Reuben, Germany.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 171 Americans carry the last name Reubens. That puts it at #118,853 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.05 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,004,411 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Reubens surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
171
1 in 2,004,411
Census rank
#118,853
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
146
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 146 bearers of the surname Reubens in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 118853rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Reubens, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%.
Origin
Meaning and origin of Reubens
The surname Reubens is believed to have originated from the German word "Reuben" or "Ruben," which is a variant of the Hebrew name "Reuven." This Hebrew name has its roots in the biblical figure Reuben, who was the eldest son of Jacob and Leah in the Book of Genesis.
The name Reubens is thought to have emerged in the Middle Ages, primarily in areas of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands. It may have been initially adopted as a surname by families of Germanic or Dutch descent who were either directly named after the biblical figure or were associated with a place name derived from the Hebrew name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Reubens can be found in the city records of Cologne, Germany, dating back to the 14th century. These records mention a certain "Johannes Reubens," indicating the presence of this surname in the region during that time.
The Reubens surname gained particular prominence in the 16th and 17th centuries, largely due to the fame of the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640). Born in Siegen, Germany, Rubens became one of the most renowned artists of the Baroque period, known for his vibrant and dramatic paintings. His exceptional talent and contributions to the art world brought recognition to the Reubens surname.
Another notable figure bearing this surname was Sir Joshua Reubens (1784-1866), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth. He played an active role in the Reform Act of 1832, which expanded voting rights and transformed the British electoral system.
The Reubens surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Europe. For instance, the town of Reuben, Germany, located in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, may have derived its name from the surname or the biblical figure.
Other prominent individuals with the Reubens surname include Johann Reubens (1650-1715), a German poet and writer from Cologne, and Pieter Reubens (1611-1676), a Dutch Golden Age painter from Leiden, who was a contemporary of Rembrandt.
While the surname Reubens has its roots in Germany and the Netherlands, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and assimilation into different cultures and communities.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Reubens
Among Census respondents with the surname Reubens, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%.
The bar chart below shows how Reubens bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Reubens surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Reubens surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #118,853 | #118,853 | 0.0% |
| Count | 146 | 146 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Reubens bearers went from 146 to 146 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #118,853 to #118,853.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Reubens
FAQ
Reubens surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Reubens?
The surname Reubens holds position #118,853 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 171 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.05 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Reubens surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Reubens, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.9%. These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.